New teacher! Our teacher is a super sweet lady. She is very low pressure but still gets the lesson done well. I'm hoping you can find someone gentler for your daughter.

Hi! I'm looking for all the American History options out there for elementary. What's your favorite? Thanks

What about lap books? Learn about one thing and make a bunch of stuff to throw into a binder. Google "lap booking through biology" and an example comes up.

My Roald Dahl fan loved all the books except for BFG. That she didn't even finish. She is saving Matilda for later. She saw part of the movie and heard the sound track from the musical and thinks it's too sad. The book of poems is great too!

Thanks, I think I just entered too! I always think about getting the Dora. It looks easy enough to give and I was super close to doing it last year!

We have used WWE and FLL. FLL is grammar. There is no teacher manual. The book is done orally for the most part and has some copy work. For WWE you just need the workbook. Though her audio lectures on teaching writing are very helpful. WWE mainly covers comprehension and narration. There is copy work and later dictation. There is no original writing for the student. You should definently look at the previews of the programs to make sure it's what your looking for.

I would consider walking home at 3 am to be dangerous. Maybe that's due to where I grew up/ live. In my area I wouldn't think it a good idea for anyone to walk that late AND I'd be double worried for your son due to race. If you previously told him to call you ahead of time and he didn't, I would assume something was off. It just seems weird that he has needed to come twice at 3 am.

I think more guidance is needed. She needs coaching and to get into some routines. 1. Help her go through her stuff. Allow her to have a junk box in which to keep the weird things kids think are so special but you don't want cluttering up the room. We have this issue with one child and my husband. Deciding on a set amount of stuff and making it easy to see what's too much helped A lot. 2. Have her clean out the car every time she gets out of it. What goes in, goes right back out. Or have a list of things that can stay but verbally remind her to get everything else out. 3. I still have to brush my oldest's hair. She just isn't capable of keeping it snarl and mat free. Both her sisters have much easier hair and I see them being able to do their own hair much sooner. So I say brush her hair for her. My kid also is sensitive and hates when I brush her hair but she admits she can't do the job herself. She wants me to brush it but some how make it not hurt. We try to do it twice a day and that helps.

Put them in the freezer over night. It's supposed to kill the bacteria that smells.

My three children all finished 100ezl at completely different reading levels. One was reading Magic Tree House and another was still sounding out the easiest of books. My oldest was in the middle. All three moved on to OPGTR. Of the two that finished they were still at different levels but much closer.

It was domestic a Detroit to Orlando. In Detroit they glanced at the papers. In Orlando there was more time spent on identifying the kids(by birthdate) and discussing that my two youngest could be twins but are a year a part. We did not carry their actual birth certificates. They each have several certified copies.

I have found the best results by asking others or checking scholastic's book alike. One of my girls went through a major Roald Dahl jag. She went through all the books except for Matilda and Danny. Fudge and Ramona a series are both funny as well. The sideways school series and Dick King Smith were popular with another kid.

My kids were asked for id (birth certificates) this fall when we flew. They were Also asked at one time what their names were, how old they were, and who we were. Interesting to hear it's not normal.

I really liked the book Deconstructing Penguins. It was really useful for figuring out how to engage kids in book discussion.

Thanks ladies! You've definitely made me feel better. I did mention adding in American history after the 3rd book. We will have some time to figure out the logistics of doing the fourth book in a group.

I agree, just because she's asking for your acceptance doesn't mean you have to give/imply it.

My oldest and middle stopped napping the weekend my youngest was born. No one else could get them to nap and when I came home it never happened again. They were almost 3 and 18 months. They did start going to bed 2 hours early so that was nice. Youngest napped part time starting at 2ish for about a year. I never knew if she'd actually fall asleep or not. I on the other hand napped until first grade and my mother was soooo worried about me missing them. I've always enjoyed sleeping it's too bad my kids didn't.

How is this getting brought up? If I heard it through the grapevine or as an off handed comment I'd MMOB. It could be gossip or just someone venting. If you're having open conversations about it with her then a dialog about it would not be inappropriate.

What are your thoughts on doing SOTW 2 and then 3 with first graders in a group setting? I am part of a group that is thinking about doing SOTW as a class cycling through the years.They are thinking of having the chapter read at home then doing a review and one of the projects in class. Thoughts? Classes would actually be 1st-5th broken up by age. So the first year all classes would do the first book. The next year everyone would do the second. Which means in two years some first graders would start with book 3.

I'd get a how to book for them. I think they're old enough to get one aimed at adults. Even with university drawing classes I still find instruction books helpful.

Sonlight has a quick test for reading levels. The Phonics Page has links to tests too. I agree with the other poster that looking up books on scholastic has given me the best estimate.

I also use AAS and WWE. That looks like it is his narration? If so, I would have him dictate it to me, I would write it out, then have the child copy it. When my girls are supposed to write the dictations given in the book I help with the spelling as they go. I try to remind the child of the rules used in the word first but sometimes I just have to spell it. If his spelling has you spelling all most every word than I would just skip him writing dictations until he gets a bit better.

I loved crew. I was competitive at the high school and club level. The problem is that,for the most part, it is very dependent on body type and size. Dieting and body issues is huge amongst many. The only reason I mention this is because I don't think parents were aware of it when I was a teen. I know my parents didn't know. I didn't realize it was bordering on inappropriate. I think it's an amazing sport just good to go into it with eyes open.

Traverse and the souronding areas are amazing. My parents have a home there and we hope to move up within the next 5 years. We also had Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids on our list.

I agree some kids just need help focusing. My oldest needs me to sit with her for math. Her sisters on the other hand can usually get it done after I give some instructions and examples.